Lavatory accommodation

ABSTRACT

A chemical service unit removably connected or incorporated in portable lavatory accommodation comprises a chemical liquid container divided by a filter screen into a first compartment containing clear liquid and a second compartment receiving discharge from the accommodation. A continuously operable pump draws off flushing liquid from the second compartment and delivers it to cisterns; a by pass connection including a pressure relief valve passes liquid to the first compartment and creates the necessary back pressure in the flushing liquid. An air pump forces air into a perforated tube on the floor of the second compartment to provide air bubbles for breaking up soil.

United States Patent [191" Bramall n11 3, 39,745 1 Oct.'8, 1974 1 LAVATORY ACCOMMODATION [75] v Inventor: John Walter Bramall, Askha Bryan, England [73] Assignee: Portasilo Limited, York, England [22] Filed: June 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:'267,684

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 5, 1971 Great Britain 31451/71 [52] US. Cl 4/11, 4/12, 4/ l.l5, 7 210/167 [51] Int. Cl E03d 5/016, C020 1/22 [58] Field of Search 4/8, 10, ll, 12, 40, 89,

4/90, 115, 117, 227, DIG. 3, 91,100,101, 135; 210/67, 167, 242, 152; 417/7, 8, 12

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,628,196 l2/l97l Quiram 4/115 3,633,218 l/l972 Lekberg....

3,666,106 5/1972 Green 3,673,614 7/1972 Claunch Roberts et al. 2l0/l67 Primary ExaminerJohn W. lluckert Assistant Examiner-Stuart S. Levy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bacon & Thomas [57 ABSTRACT A chemical service unit removably connected or incorporated in portable lavatory accommodation comprises a chemical liquid container divided by a filter screen into a first compartment containing clear liquid and a second compartment receiving discharge from the accommodation. A continuously operable pump draws off flushing liquid from the second compartment and delivers it to cisterns; a by pass connection including a pressure relief valve passes liquid to the first compartment and creates the necessary back pressure in the flushing liquid. An air pump forces air into a perforated tube on the floor of the second compartment to provide air bubbles for breaking up soil.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEnum 81974 saw 10? 3 1 LAVATORY ACCOMMODATION This invention relates to temporary or semipermanent lavatory accommodation in the form of cabins, huts and like structures housing one or more sanitary pans, for use for example on building sites, exhibition grounds, camp sites and car parks i.e., in all manner of circumstances where pennanently installed sanitary facilities are not normally available. Structures of this kind (which are those hereinafter referred to as being of the kind described) have been proposed in which the flushing supply to, and discharge from, the or each sanitary pan is adapted to be connected directly to the main water supply and main drainage system (or a septic tank) respectively, but often the making of one or both of these connections is inconvenient and/or expensive. Self-contained structures in the form of so-called chemical closets are known in which the sanitary pan discharges into a container of suitable chemical liquid which is also used to flush the pan via a manually operated pump. Whilst the flushing arrangements in units of the latter kind operate satisfactorily, they are not so readily actuable as conventional cisterns for example. It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide lavatory accommodation which is self-contained, i.e., which does not have to be connected to the main water supply or main drainage orto a septic tank, but in which the flushing of the sanitary pan or pans can be via one or more conventional cisterns.

Thus viewed from one aspect the invention provides a service unit for a structure of the kind described,

comprising a container for chemical liquid which is divided into two compartments between which the said liquid is able to pass via a filter screen, means for connecting a first one of said compartments to receive the discharge from a sanitary pan or pans of such a structure, means including a continuously operable powerdriven pump connected so as to draw liquid from the second one of said compartments for flushing said pan or pans, and a by-pass connection between the pressure side of said pump and said container.

In use of such a unit the said first one of the two compartments is connected to receive the discharge from sanitary pan or pans of a unit of the kind described,

whilst the pressure side of the pump is connected to supply flushing liquid to the pan or pans. Then, with the pump in continuous operation, the chemical liquid in the container circulates continuously through the pump and the by-pass other than when a quantity of liquid is drawn off for flushing purposes. The flushing liquid may be delivered to fill a cistern associated with the or each pan in the conventional manner or alternatively, for example, it may be delivered directly into the pan upon the opening of a manually controlled flushing valve.

It will be understood that the said by-pass connection from the pump to the container will be so arranged as, in operation, to create a back pressure sufficient to enable the flushing liquid to pass to the said pan or pans when desired. Conceivably this effect could be achieved simply by making the by-pass passage of sufficiently narrow bore to create the desired back pressure. Preferably, however, the by-pass passage is provided with valve means arranged to automatically close such passage when flushing liquid is to be passed to the pan or pans, e.g.-, in the form of a pressure operated relief valve.

Preferably the said by-pass connection leads the liquid back to the said first compartment of the container so as to bring about a substantially continuous circulation of liquid from the first compartment to the second whilst the pump is operating, which helps to break up soil in the first compartment: the by-pass connection may alternatively lead back to the second compartment however.

The said container for chemical liquid preferably has, for convenience in'fitting to a structure of the kind described incorporating more than one sanitary pan, a single inlet communicating with the said first compartment' which is connectible to receive the discharge from all the sanitary pans of the structure. However, several such inlets can be provided if desired, each inlet being adapted for connection to the discharge of a single sanitary pan.

.The said container for chemical liquid, which clearly constitutes the major part of a service unit according to the invention, may be arranged for association with a structure of the kind described in any convenientmanner, depending largely on the arrangement of the structure itself. Preferably, however, the container is adapted to be situated under the floor of the structure; it could then be suspended from the floor but preferably the container is adapted to form an underneath support, of a plinthlike nature, on which the said structure sits. When adapted to be so situated the container will be of shallow depth relative to its configuration as seen in plan, which latter configuration may conveniently be such as to correspond to that of a structure to whichthe unit is to be applied.

The provision of the said container and its associated parts as a unitary assembly for connection to a structure of the kind described is advantageous in that it permits the addition of such units to existing structures of the kind described, and also permits the ready replacement of faulty units. The scope of the invention also extends, however, to such structures which incorporate apparatus embodying the principles of the invention other than in unitary form, and thus viewed from another aspect the invention provides a structure of the kind described incorporating a container for chemical liquid which is divided into two compartments between which the said liquid is able to pass via a filter screen, a first one of said compartments being connected to receive the discharge from a sanitary pan or pans of the structure, and means including a continuously, operable power-driven pump connected so as to draw liquid from the second one of said compartments for flushing said pan or pans, and a by-pass connection between the pressure side of said pump and said container. Such a structure may of course further incorporate any of the preferred but optional features already mentioned. in particular the said container for chemical liquid may conveniently be situated beneath the floor ofthe structure, as a plinth-like base member thereof, so that the said floor constitutes the container roof.

Preferably a small pot type strainer is provided in the flushing liquid flow line outside of the said container, on either side of the said pump, to permit periodic inspection of the liquid emanating from the said second compartment, to check on the efficiency of the aforementioned filter screen. Furthermore an openable inspection chamber is preferably provided, as an exten-' sion of the said first compartment of thecontainer, to

enable the liquid level to be checked and also to provide a convenient point for filling and emptying the container.

Preferably an overflow outlet is provided from the said second compartment, which may be connected to a soak-away in use so as considerably to reduce the frequency with which the container has to be emptied and re-filled.

It is desirable that means be provided for positively agitating and thereby breaking up the contents of the said first compartment of the container of a unit according to the invention (or of the same compartment of a structure incorporating such a container) during use. Mechanical paddles operated in conjunction with a flushing mechanism previously been used but these are inefficient especially when the compartment is large enough to service a number of sanitary pans. In a preferred form of the invention such agitating means takes the form of means for continuously blowing streams of air bubbles into the said compartment at a multiplicity of spaced locations adjacent its floor. In a preferred embodiment such means comprises a continuously operablepower-driven air pump mounted outside of the container and arranged to feed air to a perforated tube extending along the floor of the said first compartment. The scope of the invention also extends to the concept in itself and thus viewed from a further aspect the invention provides a structure of the kind described incorporating a container for chemical liquid which is divided into two compartments between which the said liquid is able to pass via a filter screen, a first one of said compartments being connected to receive the discharge from a sanitary pan or pans of the structure, means for flushing the said pan or pans with liquid from the second one of said compartments, and means for continuously blowing streams or air bubbles into the said first compartment at a multiplicity of spaced locations adjacent its floor so as to agitate and break up soil in the said compartment in use. Such means may of course take the preferred form mentioned above.

Viewed from a still further aspect, the invention pro vides a service unit for a structure of the kind described comprising a container for chemical liquid which is divided into two compartments between which the said liquid is able to pass via a filter screen, means for connecting a first one of said compartments to receive the discharge from a sanitary pan or pans of such a structure, means for flushing the said pan or pans with liquid from the second one of said compartments, and means for continuously blowing streams of air bubbles into the said first compartment at a multiplicity of spaced locations adjacent its floor so as to agitate and break up soil in the compartment in use.

As the only moving parts of the liquid container assembly in a structure incorporating both aspects of the invention as defined above are the means for pumping liquid and air, wear and maintenance are considerably reduced as compared with known arrangements. Both such pumping means are intended to be run continuously during periods when the structure is likely to be used, thus eliminating the need for any pump or agita' tor to be actuated whenever a sanitary pan is flushed.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described merely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show respective end, side and plan views of a service unit according to the invention. and

FIG. 4 shows the service unit in combination with a structure of the kind described.

Referring to the drawings, container 1 has a sealed cover and is painted inside and out with bituminised paint. A perforated steel filter screen 2 divides the container into a first compartment 3 and a second compartment 4; the screen 2 may alternatively be of aluminum alloy, or nonmetallic material such as a suitable plastics. Compartment 3 has an inlet 5 for connection as at 31 (see FIG. 4), in use, to receive the discharge from the sanitary pans of a structure 30 of the kind described. A plastics tube 6 perforated at a multiplicity of spaced locations extends along the length of compartment 3 and is secured adjacent the floor of compartment 3. The end of tube 6 is enclosed by one end piece 7. Air can be forced into tube 6 by a continuously operable diaphragm compressor 8 driven by an electric motor 9. Compressor 8 and motor 9 are mounted on container 1. In use, streams of bubbles projected from the perforations of tube 6 break up soil deposited in compartment 3. The second compartment 4 in use contains relatively clean and inert chemical liquid filtered through screen 2 and can thus be used to flush the sanitary pans of the structure 30 to which the service unit is connected. A continuously operable pump 12 driven by an electric motor 13, both of which are mounted on container 1, is connected to compartment 4 through a pipe 11 to draw off flushing liquid. The output on the pressure side of pump 12 is connectible via a pipe 21 connected to one arm of a T-joint 14 to the cisterns 32 of the sanitary pans in a structure of the kind described to provide flushing liquid therefor, whilst the other arm of the T-joint is connected via a pipe 22 and a pressure operated relief valve 15 to compartment 3, thus providing a by-pass connection from the pump 12 to the compartment 3. The valve 15 is set to determine the working head of pressure, about 10 pounds per square inch, for the service unit. By means of the by-pass connection liquid can circulate between the compartments via pump 12, valve 15 and screen 2, when liquid is not being drawn off to the sanitary pans through the pipe.

The pipe 21 contains a pot type strainer 10 so that liquid from the second compartment 4 can be periodically inspected to check on the efficiency of filter screen 2 and any soil which has penetrated screen 2 can be removed.

Container 1 is adapted to be situated under the floor of and to provide an underneath support for the structure to which it is connected. It has a shallow depth relative to its rectangular configuration in plan, the rectangular configuration corresponding to the configuration in plan of the structures to which it is to be applied.

When the service unit is set up for use, the structure.

30 is lowered onto the service unit by means of suitable jacks (not shown).

The container is initially empty, and to ensure that it is filled to the right level, an overspill outlet 17 is ond compartment is inert, such draining is quite safe.

When the liquid in the container becomes inactive, or when a soakaway is not provided and the level of the liquid in the container is too high, the tank is emptied by inserting into the inspection chamber 19 the suction hose of a gulley emptier.

What we claim is: v 1. A service unit for the discharge from flushable san- -itary pans, comprising:

means defining an enclosure for chemical liquid materials;

means dividing said enclosure into two compartments, said dividing means defining a flow path between said compartments and comprising filtering means across said flow path;

inlet means for conducting the discharge from at least one sanitary pan into one of said compartments;

continuously operable pump means arranged to draw filtered liquid from the other compartment and having an outlet to direct the same away from said enclosure to a sanitary pan for selective release of said filtered liquid for flushing said sanitary pan; and by-pass means connected to said outlet and arranged to direct liquid therefrom into said one compartment whereby to continuously recirculate and refilter liquid in said enclosure, said by-pass means being provided with a valve arranged to close automatically when flushing liquid flows from said outlet away from said enclosure, to thereby direct the entire output of said pump to said sanitary pan. 2. A unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve is a pressure operated relief valve.

3. A unit as defined in claim 1 including a removable filter arranged so that liquid drawn from said other compartment passes therethrough. 

1. A service unit for the discharge from flushable sanitary pans, comprising: means defining an enclosure for chemical liquid materials; means dividing said enclosure into two compartments, said dividing means defining a flow path between said compartments and comprising filtering means across said flow path; inlet means for conducting the discharge from at least one sanitary pan into one of said compartments; continuously operable pump means arranged to draw filtered liquid from the other compartment and having an outlet to direct the same away from said enclosure to a sanitary pan for selective release of said filtered liquid for flushing said sanitary pan; and by-pass means connected to said outlet and arranged to direct liquid therefrom into said one compartment whereby to continuously recirculate and refilter liquid in said enclosure, said by-pass means being provided with a valve arranged to close automatically when flushing liquid flows from said outlet away from said enclosure, to thereby direct the entire output of said pump to said sanitary pan.
 2. A unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve is a pressure operated relief valve.
 3. A unit as defined in claim 1 including a removable filter arranged so that liquid drawn from said other compartment passes therethrough. 